DOCTOR 1: Nicole Alison

episode 25

Hayden usually hates mornings. But, since he and Alison got back together, he started to love it. Because mornings usually mean he gets to see Alison even for a short while.

He heard about the accident near the hospital, and he knew that it took Alison's time to not even think of eating properly. So, like his usual routine every morning, he woke up early to prepare breakfast for Alison.

His parents were quite surprised the first time he did it because Hayden usually wakes up and heads straight to his restaurant. But now, he cooks them breakfast before leaving.

"I just made something for Alison, and while I'm at it, I made some for you, guys, to eat." That's what he always says whenever they ask him about it.

His mom, Rosetta, loved it. It just means she can stay a little longer in bed.

After packing Alison's breakfast, he waved goodbye to his mom, descending on the stairs, fresh from sleep.

"I gotta go, Mum. See you later!" He waved goodbye to his mother, who just smiled at him and nodded.

"Say hi to Alison for me, son."

"Will do!"

He parked his car in a space just in front of the emergency room and fished his phone from his pocket.

He dialed Alison's number.

"Hey, babe," he greeted after a few rings. "Breakfast?"

"Please. Thank you. You are an angel." Alison answered.

After a few minutes of waiting, he heard a knock on the window, so he unlocked the door.

"What did you cook this time?"

"Well, as you know, I've been experimenting with a lot of recipes lately," he said.

"And I'm your guinea pig, yeah. Go on." Alison cut him off as she opened the bag on her lap.

Hayden laughed a little. "Not really, but anyway, you told me that you missed eating Korean food, so I searched the internet high and low, and that's the end product."

Alison first smelled the grilled short ribs. "This is phenomenal. Thank you, Hayden." She unpacked everything in her lap and gave Hayden his portion. There is a container for bean sprout rice and egg roll. And, of course, this is not a Korean meal without kimchi.

"When did you have the time to make all of these?" She asked as she put a spoonful of rice in her mouth, moaning in delight. She was not used to eating rice in the morning, but with more than a year of stay in Seoul, she got used to it. "Mmm. They're good!"

Hayden nodded in agreement as he ate.

"I found a Korean store somewhere and bought the kimchi. Then, I bought all the ingredients needed. The internet helped me a lot. I just hope you will like it." Hayden grinned at Alison, wiping the ketchup on the corner of her mouth.

"Ahh, so I am not the only guinea pig. Good," she says, "but seriously, these are fantastic. Thank you, babe."

After eating, Alison drank the water that Hayden brought along with the food. "You don't have to do this, you know. I feel bad that you have to wake up and cook so early for me." She put  the empty containers aside and looked at Hayden apologetically.

The hospital has been eating her time for the past three months. Sometimes, she didn't get to have a day off because she had to study. And when she finally got the time to rest, the only thing she could do was sleep.

She felt really bad for Hayden. He had been there with her, even if she won't pay him attention.

"Just do your thing, and I'll do mine here."  She remembered Hayden's words when she asked him the first time she stayed over.

"I'm not pushing you away or something, babe, but I won't be able to talk to you. I have to catch up on some cases and study them. Maybe all night. You'll just get bored here in my place." She said after she put the dishes away. They just had dinner that Hayden insisted on making.

Alison agreed because if not, she would have chosen the instant food that she could find in her pantry. And she was sick of it.

"I won't, I promise. I will not do anything to distract you. I just want to be close to you. I miss you." He said as he pulled her close to his chest, inhaling her sweet strawberry scent.

"Okay. Fine. Just tell me if you're leaving already." She looked up to him and pouted. She knew she couldn't win with him.

"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead and study." He smiled and leaned down to kiss her.

Alison is hesitant, but whenever she looks behind her, Hayden looks comfortable in her bed as he plays something on his phone. The next thing she knew, Hayden was fast asleep like he was on his own bed.

It's almost 2:00 AM  and Hayden's arms look inviting.

"Fuck this. I'm fucking tired."

That day, Hayden woke up with Alison wrapped in his arms softly snoring.

The next thing Alison knew, Hayden stays over whenever it's her day off. He even brought his PlayStation from his room to keep him busy while Alison was studying on her desk.

"Babe, we've talked about this before. I like doing this for you, you know that."

"Sorry. I just... I mean, this is the only date we can have for now. I just feel like I'm not doing anything for you at all."

"What!? Where is this coming from? You being here with me is everything. Come here." He pulled her in for a comforting hug, caressing her soft hair. "I told you, I understand, babe. I have a father who is rarely at home because of work. Besides, I like our date like this. I get to have you so close to me like this every day. That's everything for me." Hayden added.

Alison sighed and hugged him tighter. 'How can this man be so perfect in every way?'

"I love you, Hayden. How about I marry you?" She pulled away and looked him in his eyes. "Yeah, let's do that. Let's get married, Hayden. Will you marry me?"

Hayden's eyes widened as her words sank in. "W-What did you say?"

"I said, marry me. But I don't have a ring, sorry."

"Are you being serious right now? Because it's not funny, Alison." He breathe, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

She smiled."I am serious as hell. Just marry me so I can come home to you. And maybe we won't be worried about being apart from each o-" Alison's words were cut off by Hayden's lips.

His hands cupped her cheeks as he kissed her senselessly. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pulled him closer to her. She didn't know how it happened, but she just found herself in Hayden's lap, straddling him. His hands caress her waist up to her back and down again in a slow manner.

"Is this a yes?" She managed to ask in between their kisses.

Hayden was the first to pull away, leaving Alison breathless.

"You. You take my breath away," he said.

Alison chuckled as he just took her breath away, literally.

"I have everything planned!" He scowled. "Now, it's ruined."

"What?" Alison laughed at his frustration. It turns out Hayden is planning to get down on one knee on her next day off. He planned to prepare a candle-lit dinner at her place and ask her to marry him after.

"Ugh. Stop laughing." He said and hugged her.

"Sorry, you're just cute."

"Wait," he lets go of Alison and pulls down his glove box.

Still, on his lap, Alison shifted so he could get what he needed in the small compartment. She watched him as he produced a small box and opened it for her to see. The ring exudes a minimalistic charm that suits her taste. Set in 18k white gold, it features a brilliant round solitaire accompanied by two white diamonds set snugly against each side.

"This is me saying 'yes', babe," he said as he slid the sparkly ring on her finger.